Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Maitri Setu between India and Bangladesh on Tuesday through a video conference. PM Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects in Tripura. Tripura Governor Ramesh Bais and chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb were also present on the occasion. Video message from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was played on the occasion. Addressing the event, PM Modi said, “Tripura is experiencing the clear difference between the 30 years of earlier governments and the double engine government of the last three years.” “In place of corruption and commission culture of earlier years, benefits are reaching directly in the accounts of the beneficiaries,” he said. He also recalled that employees who were hassled over the salary on time are getting salary as per the 7th pay commission. For the first time, MSP has been decided in Tripura where farmers used to face many problems for selling their produce, he said. Also read: PM Modi to inaugurate Maitri Setu between India and Bangladesh on Tuesday The PM noted the environment of ease of doing business in place of the earlier culture of strikes. New investments are changing the earlier scenario of closure of industry. He said exports from Tripura in terms of volume have increased 5 times, Modi said. The PM informed that in the past 6 years, the central government has taken care of every requirement for the development of Tripura. He said there has been a significant hike in the central allocation for the state. Tripura had received Rs 3500 crore rupees for central development schemes between 2009-2014, whereas between 2014-2019 more than Rs 12000 crore has been provided. PM Modi dwelled on the benefits of double engine governments. He listed other transformation brought in by the double engine government to the state like connecting 2 lakh rural households with piped drinking water, providing 2.5 lakh free gas connection, making every village in Tripura open defecation free, 50000 pregnant women receiving the benefit of Matru Vandana Yojana, 40000 poor families getting their new homes, etc. The PM said connectivity-related infrastructure has seen tremendous improvement in the last three years. He cited the rapid work for the airport, sea-link for internet in Tripura, rail link and waterways in this regard. He talked of HIRA development i.e. Highways, i-ways, Railways and Airways for Tripura. The PM said the connectivity is not only strengthening the friendship between India and Bangladesh but also proving to be a strong link of business too. He informed that the entire region is being developed as a trade corridor between Northeast India and Bangladesh. The PM emphasized that the rail and water connectivity projects that have been realized in the recent years have been strengthened by this bridge. This will improve connectivity of south Assam, Mizoram and Manipur along with Tripura with Bangladesh and South-East Asia. Modi said the bridge will give an impetus to the economic opportunity in Bangladesh also. The Prime Minister thanked the Bangladesh government and the PM of Bangladesh for the cooperation in the completion of the bridge project. The PM said the foundation stone of the bridge was laid during his visit to Bangladesh. PM Modi said, “Now, people will not have to depend only on the road for any kind of supply to the Northeast, “Efforts are underway to connect Chittagong port of Bangladesh with Northeast through an alternative route via the river.” He said, “The ICP in Sabroom will work like a full-fledged logistic hub with warehouses and container trans-shipment facilities.” Due to this bridge over Feni River, Agartala will become the nearest city to an international sea port in India. “Projects related to broadening of NH-08 and NH-208 which were dedicated and for which foundation stone was laid will strengthen the connectivity of the Northeast with the port,” Modi said.

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